This week, the Tin Music And Arts celebrated Black History Month with Jazz in the Vaults.
Hosted by NYOTAA, the evening saw four local alternative jazz artists perform iconic jazz covers and original pieces to an intimate crowd.
NYOTAA said: “Jazz is rooted in black arts and black music. I think that needs to be remembered.”
“This event is extremely important to me because I believe that grassroot artists deserve a platform and deserve a stage to really showcase their actual real and authentic art on stage.”
“It’s important to have this event for Black History Month because there are different type of people who are able to educate themselves through books and documentaries, but there’s also people who are able to feel what black history is through music. Music is a universal language.”
Ina, a singer-songwriter blending jazz, hiphop and soul shared how celebrating black history has changed.
“Growing up there wasn’t much of a focus on black history. Now there’s a whole month dedicated for it, there’s a lot of sources of important parts of history that we don’t really get taught.”
With her grounded charm and sarcastic lyricism, Janique James drew the crowd in with entertaining original torch songs including HMRC Vice Grip.
For James, Black History Month is “about celebrating what we have achieved and overcome.”
Oninye and the Profetz showcased a jazz rendition of Summertime and closed the the night with a grand finale of matra anthems.
“Black History Month is very special to me.” Oninye shared. “It’s important to recognise black people’s contributions to society. We’re overlooked unless it’s for bad things. I think there needs to be light shed on black role models to inspire young people so that they can see themselves in history.”
Article written by Samantha Stimpson
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